Above the Archivist’s computer are the following words:
“Our job is to preserve the past and to record the present for the future.”
Archives, however, in the Christ’s College context are much wider than the expected dusty tomes and wrinkled sheets of paper. Archives are about recording College life, in its broadest context. It involves bringing what can be found out about and rescued from the past, and adding it with the hundreds of printed pages and email messages, into a seamless and continuous record.
It is a record which relies upon planned collection and serendipity, on the deliberate gathering of current information and on the generosity of Old Boys and their descendants. Archives cover socks to text books, examination papers to cricket caps, inkwells to ties, because they are all part of the essence which is College. Without these visible reminders of what the past was like, there is a distinct lack of context for the future.
These records are used in a variety of ways by staff, boys, Old Boys and outside researchers, but they all have a common theme: “ tell me about……” and we do our best to do just that. There are times when that is just not possible, when the information which is required has just not survived in its entirety, but there are always clues to follow up. Some of this research finds its way into regularly changed displays within the College Library, and within the College Museum, a facility which was completed in time for the 150th celebrations. Other research is also used within College in history classes.
The Archives are always looking for, and ready to accept new material which has Christ’s College connections. At the moment we are looking for information about the Old Boys who served in the RCF and RAF during the First World War, those who went to South Africa in the Boer War, and early photographs of House groups.
The Archives are open each Tuesday and Thursday, and it is preferable if an appointment is made. This is so that any material that is required can be ready for your arrival. There may be charges for this research, and any that is done for you by the Archives, but this will be discussed at the time.
Want to find info on an Old Boy? Click here for more info.
Contact:
jteal(at)christscollege.com
ph 03- 366-8705 ex 8834
ph 03-364-6834
Chapel